Page 122 of Not So Very Sensible

“Ethan?”

“Look, I know it’s a lot to ask, but would you mind accompanying me to an election function this weekend?”

“What?” She knew things had improved between Ethan and his family, thanks to some hefty healthy boundaries and his desire not to burn a bridge that might help them see Jesus one day, but … “I didn’t think your family wanted to be seen with me.”

“Apparently Dad doesn’t think the optics are that great with Rob and Lucinda.”

She winced. “That does look a little awkward,” she agreed.

It turned out that Lucinda wasn’t quite as fussed about which Ferris brother she ended up with after all, quickly rebounding into a relationship with Rob, who’d apparently quite liked the idea of all that Steele money lining his pockets. And with Ethan’s dad keen to keep the campaign money flowing in, he’d switched his focus to encouraging Rob to see Lucinda, not realising that the general public was a little shocked at how quickly things had changed. Lucinda had been quite unwell lately, and while Ellie didn’t want to feel sorry for her, especially after all the hardship she had put Ethan through, Ellie couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her. After all, Lucinda had ended up with the inferior Ferris brother.

“I’m not sure.”

“Please? It’s just for half an hour, long enough to give the appearance of happy families. Then we could go have dinner somewhere nice on Dad’s credit card, or so he’s insisting. I thought someplace like Bennelong at the Opera House might be nice.”

Ellie’s last encounter there had seen Katie leave in floods of tears. It would be nice to improve on that memory. “Okay then.”

“Thank you. I love you.”

Her heart sparkled. She’d never get tired of hearing him say those words. “I love you too.”

Four months later

Ethan held Ellie’s hand as they wove their way through the non-celebratory people. This election had not gone as Dad had planned, with a massive swing against him. There was even talk that he would step down as the opposition leader, that he might even lose his seat if the numbers kept stacking up against him. And Ethan couldn’t help but feel a little bit sorry for his father. All his life, Dad had focused on winning, and now it seemed a certainty that his political career was gone. What did he have left?

Dad had no faith. He didn’t have a close relationship with family. Rob barely tolerated him, and Francine blamed him too, even though she was exploring faith and had even come to a couple of church events with Emma-Jane and Ellie in recent months. It would be interesting to see how many of Dad’s friends hung around if he lost his seat, and how many of them would prove to have been self-serving.

Ethan wrapped a protective arm around Ellie, guiding her across the floor to the edge of the stage where Rob and Lucinda waited, Lucinda’s protruding belly provoking questions from some of the more conservative members of Dad’s party. None of them could have imagined that Rob and Lucinda would be having a baby quite so soon, or that Lucinda’s mum would undergo an experimental drug trial that would give her a new lease of life. Praise God for saving Ethan from making that mistake. He kissed Ellie’s cheek.

“What’s that for?” She glanced around. “Is there a photographer around?”

“Probably. But that kiss is because I love you.”

Her smile sweetened, and suddenly it didn’t matter that they were surrounded by so many people. He’d never get his fill of her.

Ellie’s hair was twisted up in a knot, her black sheath dress an unexpected choice but one welcomed by his dad, who had earlier proclaimed she looked very nice.

She’d nodded, accepting the compliment as her due, then spent the next few minutes going out of her way to help a lady with a pram who was being ignored by her husband. Ethan had gone to help them, and learned the woman was the sister of a hero navy pilot but was here because her husband was one of Dad’s backers over the years. Poor guy. He was probably regretting that right now.

But now, looking out across the sea of faces, he realised just how little he cared about this. He’d much rather be home with Ellie tucked under his arm, watching TV, eating takeaway food.

And he hoped it wouldn’t be too much longer before he could call his home hers too.

His dad made his concession speech, and Ellie squeezed Ethan’s hand, her expression confident, chin up, eyes fixed forward, like she was imagining the future too.

A future not bound by politics, even if they both lived in the nation’s capital, but sewn in kindness and compassion for others, making a difference in the world.

Reporters asked his dad various things, then one called out to him. “Ethan, do you have any plans to enter politics?”

He shook his head. “To be honest, I can’t think of anything worse.”

There was a gasp amidst some muffled laughter.

“Can you tell us about your girlfriend? Ellie, isn’t it?”

“Thank you for your good wishes, but we have no desire to be in the spotlight.”

“Ellie,” the reporter called, “you look like you’d be a youthful addition to the staid old men who run this party. Do you have any comment?”